Exploring the Unknown: 50 Years of NASA History

Abstract

After briefly describing the origins of NASA in 1958, this chapter analyzes three broad themes of NASA’s mission over the last 50 years: human spaceflight; the space, Earth, and life sciences; and aeronautics. It distinguishes four eras of human spaceflight: the Apollo era, the Space Shuttle era, the International Space Station era, and the Moon/Mars era. In the space sciences NASA achievements have been legendary, ranging from the early Moon probes, such as Ranger and Surveyor, to landmark robotic spacecraft exploring the inner planets, such as Mariner and the Mars probes, and Pioneer, Voyager, and others exploring the outer gas and ice giant planets. Together these spacecraft completed the preliminary reconnaissance of the Solar System. The spectacular imagery from the Great Observatories including the Hubble Space Telescope carried this exploration to the furthest reaches of space. NASA’s Earth applications programs utilized near-Earth space to study the planet’s resources, to provide essential information about weather, and to provide means for navigation that was both life-saving and had enormous economic implications. Worldwide satellite communications brought the world closer together, a factor difficult to estimate from a cost-benefit analysis. NASA’s life sciences programs tackled some of the most profound questions for humanity, including the origins of life and the search for extraterrestrial life. In the field of aeronautics NASA from its beginnings conducted research on aerodynamics, wind shear, flight safety, and other important topics using wind tunnels, flight testing, and computer simulations. We conclude that exploration is important for any forward-looking society.

First published in 50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective (Universities Press India: Hyderabad, India, 2007).